The resident crier for the Welsh Highland Railway beat 16 others from around the country – including two former champions – to win the prestigious national title.

His winning “cry” was a self-penned message in praise of wet British weather and seaside piers, like the one at Colwyn Bay.

Martin, 50, from Rhosgadfan near Caernarfon, who represented The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway museum, was the only Welsh entry in the competition to find the nation’s best town crier, held at Biddulph, Staffordshire.

The Porthmadog-based museum is the only steam railway in the UK to have its own crier.

He said: “It was a very close competition, held in lovely summer sunshine, and in the end, the top three criers were separated by mere fractions of a point.”

Each crier had to deliver two themed cries of no more than 125 words on “What’s Great About Britain” and “The Traditional British Seaside – Why We Love It”.

Martin said: “In the first cry I praised the British rain as being far better than any other. In the second, I praised Britain’s piers such as Colwyn Bay.

“It’s all about performance, how you deliver.”

Martin also delivered an impromptu proclamation outside a card shop where he praised the cards, balloons and teddy bears.

Martin and his partner Jan have two step-children and he is a grandfather-of-one.

A former publican at the Cross Foxes, Garndolbenmaen, Martin now works for a pharmaceutical company in Caernarfon.

He is learning Welsh but recently concentrated his efforts on slimming and successfully lost six stone.

Martin is a volunteer at the railway, showing visitors round the museum and is often seen in Porthmadog dressed in his crimson costume and black and gold tricorn hat.

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway boss James Hewett said: “We’re really pleased that Martin has been able to put Porthmadog, and the WHHR, on the map. He has only been our official railway town crier since the start of 2009, but we’re really pleased with the way he’s become part of the community.”

Among the criers who lost out on this year’s prize were representatives from Bristol, Halifax and Gainsborough.

The glass trophy will now take its place alongside a number of other awards the WHR museum has won in the last year, including a Wales in Bloom award for best station flower displays, and a place in the Wales Volunteer of the Year awards.